THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is pouring in more community projects to Basilan towns, following the turnover last week of a P 25-million two-storey public market building to the municipal local government of Lantawan town.
Officials have laid cornerstones for the installation of a P15-million saltwater desalination facility and the construction of a P 25-million, two-storey municipal hall building in Haji Mohtamad town.
“Local development programs are designed for BARMM to better build a strong governance founded on the firm transition from a state of conflict to environment of peace– and towards development,” BARMM Interior and Local Government Minister said, during a press conference hosted Friday by the region’s Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO).
A seawater desalination system now being installed each in Haji Muhtamad and Tabuan Lasa towns in Basilan, will provide residents with some 5,000 cubic meters of potable, safe drinking water on a daily basis in each of the two towns, Sinarimbo said.
On the other hand, Sinarimbo said, public market buildings are envisioned to boost the inherent corporate powers of LGUs to improve their levels of revenue collection on local taxes and rents, and even sell the towns’ leading products to locals and as an economic component of the local tourism development.
This, Sinarimbo said, will support foresights of opening a new environment of domestic trading with improved economic support facilities.
Similar seawater desalination facilities were transported to boost inland tapping for domestic water sources in Pangutaran, Pata, Hadji Panglima Tahil and Pandami. Coastal residents of these towns needed to cross three hours on boat to Tapul Island or Siasi to fetch potable water across the turbulent Sulu Sea.
The 10K Seawater Desalination system is a reduced size of the usual water treatment plant, and siphons source of water directly from the sea Architect Glory Rose Metilla said public market and barangay hall buildings in BARMM are designed with architectural motifs inspired by the rich culture and tradition of the Bangsamoro heritage and history.
The two-level market building is equipped with facilities like water pipe lines, hybrid power supply, cold storage and tiled stalls of modern design.
“We thought of two things: first, help our constituents to have the opportunity to earn and the practical way is to do business, if there is a market. Second, we also want the local government units to learn to earn not only because of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) but the government can earn through economic enterprise such as this market,” Sinarimbo said.
Sinarimbo said of the Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, the MILG intends to help LGUs improve on
governance and on the Bangsamoro constituents’ access to government’s services.
“Over the years, we have seen that [change] because we are going to transition from conflict to peace, and hopefully to development. We
cannot maintain peace without practical changes that our constituents feel,” he stressed.
The MILG minister also explained that the public market has a modern design deeply rooted in the Bangsamoro heritage and tradition.
“It consists of a ground floor and a mezzanine where entrepreneurs can set up their businesses from coffee shops to dry goods,” he added.
Meanwhile, Municipal Administrator Tahira Ismail said the public market will help local consumers, including access to quality food,
marketing opportunities, and increase social cohesion.
“Sa mga constituents ng Lantawan, ang building na ito ay bigay ng BARMM hindi lang para sa municipal government, kundi, kung sino ang
gusto mag-negosyo. Mag-apply kayo sa Treasurer’s Office para mabigyan kayo ng permit bilang occupants sa public market na ito,” Ismail said.
On the same day, BARMM officials laid the cornerstones for the construction of five two-level barangay hall buildings in five villages of Lantawan.
